Electric watchman&#39;s clock.



G. B. PBSSENDEN. ELECTRIC WATGHMANS CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY2'8, 1908.

Patented Nov. 1,-1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. FESSENDEN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ECO MAGNETO CLOCK 00., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

ELECTRIC WATCHMANS CLOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. Fnssnn- DEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, Cominonwealth of lVlassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric VVatchmens Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric watch mans clocks and more particularly to that class known as the barrel or cylindrical dial type.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means for permitting the move ment of a cylinder in a clock in which the dial is used more than for one night, namely, for instance, for three nights, or, if so desired, for one week.

In one day dial clocks it is necessary to replace the dial every day, which becomes especially objectionable Saturdays and Sundays, as it requires a special errand to the works of the superintendent for the purpose of substituting the dials. In those clocks which are used for more than one day, a dial is provided which has the divisions heretofore used, subdivided so as to conform to more than one cycle of operations and in order to use said dial means for bringing said dial in position so as to be properly marked by the marking devices are required.

The nature of this invention consists in means for bringing about the movement of the cylinder with the dial, consisting of a spring-actuated release device having flanges of different heights, and having projections to be engaged so as to rotate the device and bring about the shifting of the flanges, so as to change their position relatively to the cylinder.

The invention consists also in the combination of a cylinder tending to move in one direction and automatic means adapted to be moved positively so as to allow the cylinder to shift in said first named direction at the end of each complete rotation of the same.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a cylinder, means for tending to move the cylinder in one direction and means for permitting its movement in that direction, Fig. 2 is a side view of the parts Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 23, 1998.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Serial No. 444,897.

located at one end of the device shown in Fig. 1, and showing the relative position of the marking devices to the cylinder, Fig. 3 is a detail view of the release device, Fig. 4- is a detail view of the release device mainly in elevation, but partly in section. Fig. 5 shows the relative position of the marking points to the dial when the dial is in its initial position, Fig. 6 is a detail view of the parts as seen from line 66 of Fig. 1, showing the same in a position corresponding to the initial position of the dial as shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 shows the relative position of the marking points to the dial when the dial is in its second position, Fig. 8 is a detail view of the parts as seen from line 66 of Fig. 1, showing the same in a position corresponding to the second position of the dial, Fig. 9 shows the relative position of the marking points to the dial when the dial is in its third position, and Fig. 10 is a detail view of the parts as seen from line 6-6 of Fig. 1, sh0wing the same in a position corresponding to the third position of the dial.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, a cylinder or barrel 21 is provided with a grooved covering 52, over which a dial 51 is placed, adapted to be punctured by the marking points 53, actu ated by electroinagnets 50, as is well known. On each energization of the electromagnets 50, the armatures are attracted, and these move the marking points against the paper dial. The cylinder 21 is supported by a shaft 28, the ends of which rotate in the standards 22 and 82, being held in position by the collars 24.- and 92 one at each side of the standard 82, and secured to the shaft by screws 25. A gear wheel 23, meshing with the usual clock train, is also secured to the shaft, and a cap 26 keeps the gear wheel 23 in position on the shaft. The dial 21 is provided with proper printed markings, transversely and longitudinally arranged corresponding to the number of stations and to the time. The movement of the cylinder 21 is usually so timed as to bring about one complete revolution for each 24 hours, and the magnets, with the marking points actuated thereby, are so arranged longitudinally along the cylinder that on the actuation of a station, the magnet electrically connected therewith is energized and the dial pricked at that portion immediately in front of it, the marking produced thereby, showing by its relative position, the number of the station and the time when the station was acted upon by the key of the watchman. All this is well known.

In one day clocks dials were used for only one complete rotation, corresponding to one day, and this necessitated the daily renewal of the same by the superintendent or other employee who was given charge thereof. This required his visit to the factory Saturdays and Sundays as well as on other days. In more than one day-clocks, dials are used in which each division, heretofore corresponding only to one station marking, is divided into three parts or subdivisions, one part for each of three days. This division may, if preferable, be divided into seven parts, corresponding to the days of the week. This would require only weekly renewals. In the case shown in the drawings, the dial would not require renewal until after the third day, which is very advantageous not only to cover the period over Sunday but also the period over the holidays.

By the shifting of the cylinder carrying the dial, the several subdivisions are brought into juxtaposition to the marking devices, and for this purpose means are required to effect this shifting. The cylinder is made movable for this purpose in respect to the shaft, and a helical spring 27 is interposed between one end of the cylinder 21 and the collar 2&, so as to continually force the cylinder away from the clock-train end of the shaft, or, as shown in Fig. 1, to force the cylinder from the right to the left. To the other end of the shaft 28 is secured a disk 33, having a guide-hole 66 for the passage of a pin 46, supported at the end of the cylinder. On the movement of the cylinder, the pin 16 will move readily in the guidehole 66. The disk 33 in turn supports a shaft 37 having a nut 38, between which and the disk 33 a release device having a collar 32 is arranged. This collar 32 is provided with an interior flange 67, the innermost end of which abuts against and is adapted to seat and rotate on the disk 33. A portion of the flange (57 is cut away, so as to form a portion 11 and is provided with slots 10, in one of which the end 45 of a spring 4.4 engages so as to be secured therein, while the other end of the spring is secured to a pin 43, extending from the disk 33. The collar 32 is also provided with an exterior flange 68, the parts of which are cut away, step fashion, so as to form flanges of different heights, corresponding to the number of subdivisions on the dials, or, in other words. to the number of days during which the dial is to be used before removal. The cut-away portions of steps (39 and are shown clearly in Fig. 3, the flange 68 forming the highest step.

The tendency of the cylinder to be moved sidewise is caused by the action of the spring 27, and brings about a pressure of the pin 46 against: the seat of the flange (38, as shown in Fig. 1. By rotation of the collar, first the step (38, and then the step (39, moved away from the pin 46, and thereby, no rea sistance being offered to the tendency of the cylinder to move in a sidewise direction by the action of the spring on it, a step by step shifting of the cylinder is caused.

The collar 32 is provided on its periphery with pins 34, 35 and 36 extending radially outward and in such a manner as to encounter a stationary pin 31 supported by a vertical extension 29 of the standard 22 on the rotation of the disk 33, and of suiiicient length to cause the collar 32 to be positively moved and in a single direction during the continued rotation of the disk A stop pin 42 is secured to the disk 33 and prevents the further rotation of the releasing collar when the shoulder portion 76 abuts against it. The abutting of the other shoulder portion 93 of the flange 39 against the pin 12 limits the movement of the collar and determines its initial position.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: lVith the parts placed in position as shown in Fig. 1 and the collar 32 rotated against the action of the spring 14, the pin 46 of the cylinder pressing against the uppermost seat 68 of the exterior tlange of the collar 32, holds the collar against the action of the spring 14, in stationary position. The dial is adjusted in its proper position on the cylinder 21 and the clock-train set in operation.

Fig. 5 shows the corresponding relative positions of marking points 53 of the marking devices to the subdivisions a, a and a" of the division A of the dial. The division A would correspond to one station and for one day while the subdivisions a a and a of the improved dial correspond to the actions of one station during the several days of the three during which my improved dial and device may be used.

The clock train having been set into operation, the cylinder 21 is rotated and arrives near the end of the first 2 1 hours in such a position as to bring the collar with its extending pins in a position substantially like that in Fig. 6. By the continuing rotation the stationary pin 31 is encountered by the pin 36 of the collar, and the collar rotated thereby on its axis 37. The seat- 68 of the exterior flange is moved from under and away from the pin &6 during the time that the pins 31 and 36 are in engagement with each other after which the pin jumps from that seat 68 to the next lower seat or step 69. The releasing of the pin e6 from engagement with the seat 68 and into engagement with the seat 69 permits the expansion of the spring 28, and the movement of the cylinder 21 a distance corresponding to the height of the step, from the right to the left, in the embodiment shown in the drawing, causes the jumping of the pin just referred to. This shifting movement of the cylinder brings the second subdivision a for instance, in juxtaposition with the marking device and the marking corresponding to the second day is ready to begin. The relative position of the marking device to the dial when in the second position is clearly shown in Fig. 7. The continued rotation of the cylinder brings, at the end of the next 24; hours, the parts in the position shown in Fig. 8, and by the continued rotation, the releasing de vice is caused to be moved so as to bring about the disengagement of the seat 69 from the pin 46. Simultaneously with the jumping of the pin 46 to the next seat 70, another shifting movement of the cylinder is occa sioned. This brings the dial in the position relative to the marking device shown in Fig. 9, or corresponding to the third day, the marking point 53 being in juxtaposition to the subdivision 0: The further continued rotation of the cylinder brings the parts at the end of the third day in the position shown in Fig. 10, when the pin 42 will be caused to abut against the shoulder portion 93 of the flange and prevent any further rotation of the collar, and by the next engagement of the pins 31 and 36 on the continued rotation, the rotation of the cylinder and dial is stopped.

The invention therefore consists of a releasedevice having flanges of different heights and having projections; and also in the combination, of a cylinder tending to move in one direction, and means adapted to be moved positively and in one direction to allow the cylinder to shift in said first named direction at the end of each complete rotation of the same.

By the use of my improved device a dial may be used in clcctric watchmans clocks which may be placed on the cylinder Friday evenings and, which will take up, until the return of the superintendent to it three days later, all the markings made during the three days.

In the drawings and description, a particular embodiment of my invention has been shown, but it clear that change. may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the same.

I claim:

1. In an electric watchmans clock, the

combination of a cylinder tending to move in one direction, and automatic means adapted to be moved positively to allow the cylinder to shift in said direction only at the end of each complete rotation of the same.

2. In an electric watchmans clock, the combination of a cylinder tending to move longitudinally in one direction, and automatic means normally preventing the movement of the cylinder in that direction and arranged to allow a step-by-step movement of the cylinder in said direction.

3. In an electric watchmans clock, the combination of a cylinder tending to move in one direction, and a rotatable release device having flanges of different heights and adapted to successively move at the end of each complete rotation of the cylinder whereby the cylinder is successively permitted to move.

4. In an electric watchmans clock, the combination of a cylinder tending to move in one direction and having a pin and a release device rotatable with thecylinder and engaged by the pin, said release device be ing moved successively from under the pin at the end of each complete rotation of the cylinder.

5. In an electric watchmans clock, the combination of a cylinder tending to move in one direction and having a pin and a spring-actuated release device with flanges of different heights engaged by the pin, said release device being rotatable with the cylinder and having projections adapted to be successively engaged for turning it, thereby permitting the movement of the cylinder.

6. In an electric watchmans clock, the combination of a cylinder tending to move in one direction having a collar and a pin, a release device supported by the collar and having flanges of different heights engageable by the pin, said release device having projections, and an abutment successively engaging the projections of the release device for turning it, thereby permitting the movement of the cylinder.

7. In an electric watchmans clock, the combination of a cylinder tending to move longitudinally in one direction, and a movable release device positively cooperating with the cylinder and having a cam adapted to permit the cylinder to move in said direction.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. B. FESSENDEN.

IVitnesses KATHERINE D. BUCKLEY, WILLIAM NOBLE MoCoNNnLL. 

